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Junction City council adopts ordinance allowing up to two-year extensions for land-use approvals during sewer moratorium
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 1, permitting property owners with land‑use approvals issued before the city’s moratorium to apply for extensions of up to two years; the city cited limited sanitary sewer capacity and a mutual agreement with DEQ as the rationale.
Junction City — The Junction City Council on Jan. 28 adopted Ordinance No. 1 to allow owners of properties with active land‑use approvals issued before the city’s development moratorium to apply for extensions of up to two years from the approval expiration date.
The ordinance, introduced at a public hearing and unanimously approved by the council, responds to the city’s moratorium on development adopted Oct. 22, 2024, which the council said was necessary because of limited sanitary‑sewer capacity while the city works with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to comply with a mutual agreement and order (MAO).
City staff told the council the draft ordinance establishes clear, objective criteria for a type‑1 administrative extension application, requires an application narrative identifying the underlying approval and prior extensions, and allows the public‑works director to approve extensions as administrative decisions. The ordinance states that any extension approved under the new rule is in addition to other extensions available under the Junction City Municipal Code and that owners may request additional extensions while the state‑law moratorium remains in effect.
The council record attached a set of findings of fact (Exhibit A) and the ordinance references statewide planning goals the city believes are satisfied by the legislative amendment; city staff and counsel indicated Goals 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11 are potentially applicable and are addressed in the proposed findings.
Attorney Jesse Burgess, representing Westland Corporate Park and several pending subdivisions including The Reserve at Junction City and Maple Springs, testified in favor of the ordinance, saying the measure would help developers who have invested in approvals and face uncertainty because of the moratorium.
The ordinance sets the effective date as the 30th day after enactment and specifies that extensions are available to approvals granted before 10/22/2024 that had not yet expired. The ordinance does not set a fee schedule for the type‑1 extension application; staff noted fees could be set later if council chooses.
Votes at a glance: The council read Ordinance No. 1 by title and then voted to adopt it. The motion to read by title was made by Councilor Leach and seconded by Councilor Weishburn; the motion to adopt was made by Councilor Leach and seconded by Councilor Senegas. The council voted unanimously (Councilor Thomas: yes; Councilor Weishburn: yes; Councilor Senegas: yes; Councilor Leach: yes; Councilor Jamieson: yes; Councilor Hancock: yes).
Why it matters: City officials said the moratorium, adopted under ORS 197.505–197.540, may remain in effect for several years while sewer capacity is addressed; the extensions aim to reduce redundant staff review, allow property owners to continue construction to final plat where possible, and limit financial impacts to developers who relied on prior approvals.
What’s next: The ordinance directs the public‑works director to accept and administratively decide extension applications under the city’s type‑1 procedures. Staff and the council noted the Planning Commission recommended adoption on Jan. 21, 2025, with no changes.
